NFL Combine 2020: What to watch for this week

The NFL Scouting Combine is officially underway on Monday, although fans won’t see anything they’re used to until Thursday.

For the first three days, position groups are brought into Indianapolis and run through measurements and medical evaluations along with 15-minute interviews with the 32 teams. In short, it’s hundreds of prospects trying to impress without stepping onto the field.

The actual athletic portion of the NFL Combine begins on Thursday, with the events in primetime this year. If you’re looking to watch the proceedings at Lucas Oil Stadium, here’s the rundown.

On Thursday, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends will go through drills. Friday gives us the running backs, offensive linemen and special teams. Over the weekend, it’s the defensive linemen and linebackers on Saturday followed by the defensive backs on Sunday.

The first three days will all be aired on NFL Network from 4-11 p.m. ET, with Sunday’s coverage also on the flagship, but at 2 p.m. ET and finishing up five hours later.

So what should you be looking for this week while trying to parse through the absurdity? Here’s a quick guide.

• Don’t worry too much about 40-times, unless we’re talking about cornerbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Those are the only three positions where it matters to the point of changing a draft grade. The only exception is if a linebacker or tight end runs a ridiculous time in either direction.

• Watch the feet. If you’re trying to figure out which linemen (offensive or defensive) is the right fit for your team, watch their footwork. Look, every guy out there is going to bench press a million pounds and look like Hulk. The differentiator is whether the prospect can move fluidly, show good fundamentals, etc. The kids who can do that have a chance to get on the field and make an impact immediately.

• Look at the quarterback’s throwing motion. It doesn’t matter if every pass is being completed. After all, this is the first time most of these quarterbacks and receivers have seen each other. There is no chemistry. What’s far more important is how quickly the ball gets released and from what angle once the throwing motion begins. If it’s long and loopy, forget about it.

• Finally, don’t go overboard on a few drills. The teams won’t be. Medicals and interviews matter most to them, because this is the first time they’ve been able to drill down in those regards.